Botanical Colors

Navajo Tea

Navajo Tea (Thelesperma megapotamicum) also called cota or Hopi Tea is a traditional herbal medicine and dyestuff used by the Diné. The dried stems, fine leaves and blossoms yield a warm peach to rich orange-rust shade on wool and cotton. An iron mordant shifts the color to a warm brown. The plant is used as a tea for ailments and is considered a blood purifier. Our Navajo Tea has been stored in a non-food manner, so please do not use for medicine or for drinking. For our samples, we used 1:1 Navajo Tea to wool gauze weight of fabric (meaning … Read more

Hopi Black Sunflower Dye

Hopi Black Sunflower Dye (Helianthus annuus) is a traditional indigenous dye color used for baskets and wool dyeing. Our sunflower seeds came from a grower in central Washington, and they are gorgeous. Inky and full of pigment, we were thrilled at the beautiful smoky blue gray produced on wool gauze fabric. For our samples, we used 1:1 sunflower seeds to wool gauze weight of fabric (meaning for every gram of fabric, we weighed out a gram of seeds), added the seeds to water, then heated the seeds and water for about 45 minutes. After that, we strained the seeds out … Read more

Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a North American coneflower, a perennial that readily self sows, and a strong attractor to pollinators. We love its cheery bright yellow and near black, velvety center eyes. The color yield from Black Eyed Susan is surprising and exciting. With a dye bath that is pH neutral, wool dyes a beautiful soft green with alum, and a dark brown-olive with iron mordant. For our samples, we used 1:1 Black Eyed Susan to wool gauze weight of fabric (meaning for every gram of fabric, we weighed out a gram of flowers), added the flowers to … Read more

Coarse Walnut Hull

Coarse Walnut Hull is the same black walnut as our ground walnut hull powder, but not as finely pulverized. Use it in the same manner as regular walnut hulls to achieve rich dark brown and black tones. Walnut Hull Powder from black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a common source of brown dye throughout North America. The fleshy hulls are full of tannin, juglone and other pigments and are the primary source of the dye. Walnut hulls were used to dye hair, make inks and clothing and are also used in herbal medicine. For our samples, we used 1:1 walnut hull … Read more

Whole Cochineal Insects

Whole Cochineal Insects 100g of Whole Cochineal Insects will dye about 900 grams (2 pounds) of fiber to a deep red shade. For detailed instructions, please see our page on dyeing with cochineal. Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) is a scale insect that invades the nopal cactus and is about the size of a grain of rice with a silvery purple hue. The best cochineal is dark and full of carminic acid. We obtain only the finest grade cochineal on the market. You will also need a small amount of Cream of Tartar for the extraction process. Cochineal is one of the … Read more

Eucalyptus Leaf (Eucalyptus globulus)

Eucalyptus Leaf (Eucalyptus globulus) Eucalyptus globulus, also known as Tasmanian Blue Gum tree is widely used as an herbal remedy, tea and prized for its aromatic qualities. This particular variety of eucalyptus creates a warm gold color with alum mordant, and a sage color when iron is added. It will create a highly scented dye bath, so use good ventilation if you have sensitivity. Directions for use Use Eucalyptus leaf 1:1 (enough eucalyptus to equal the weight of the mordanted fiber). Fill a dye pot with enough water to cover the eucalyptus leaves and heat to simmering. Let simmer until … Read more

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric – Vertical Slub Stripe

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric -Vertical Slub Stripe Thisl Japanese fabric has a slightly irregular weave from a distinctive warp-wise slub stripe in the weaving process. We are pleased to offer this lovely slub fabric that takes indigo beautifully and is amazing for clamp type shibori. It is woven similar to silk tsumugi, or handspun, with a pleasing texture. This narrow (approx 14 inch) blend fabric is ideal for dyeing. The fabric is bleached and should be washed prior to mordanting or dyeing, but does not need scouring. We are offering this fabric by the yard (36 inches). For orders … Read more

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric – Yukata cloth

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric – Yukata cloth When you visit a hot spring or traditional bath in Japan, you are often given a lightweight cotton robe called a yukata to wear to and from the bath. It is made of very soft, absorbent cotton and is often printed with the name of the hotel or hot springs establishment. We are pleased to carry yukata fabric, although we’re not using it to make yukata. It’s actually a great fabric for learning stitched resist shibori and other shibori techniques. The fabric makes very crisp and distinct designs when used for stitched … Read more

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric – Cotton Slub

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric – Cotton Slub Thisl Japanese fabric has a slightly irregular weave from using cotton slub yarns in the weaving process, creating a beautiful crosshatch texture that enhances the color of the dye. We are pleased to offer this lovely slub fabric that takes indigo beautifully and is amazing for clamp type shibori. It is woven similar to silk tsumugi, or handspun, with a pleasing texture. This narrow (approx 14 inch) blend fabric is ideal for dyeing. The fabric is bleached and should be washed prior to mordanting or dyeing, but does not need scouring. We … Read more

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric – Cotton-Washi-Hemp

Japanese Narrow Width Cotton Fabric – Cotton-Washi-Hemp This is an unusual, lovely narrow width cotton-washi paper and hemp fiber blend that has a crispness and structure. It would be beautiful dipped in indigo and has a distinctive open weave similar to a leno that allows air and light through the fabric. This narrow (approx 17 inch) blend fabric is ideal for dyeing. This is a lightweight, open weave fabric, approximately 60 grams per yard. The fabric is bleached and should be washed prior to mordanting or dyeing. We are offering this fabric by the yard (36 inches). For orders more … Read more